Dec 7, 2015 4 min read

I thought the Steelers would handle the Colts rather easily. I didn’t think it would be that easy.

The Steelers seemingly could have named their score in this one and sent a shot across the collective bow of the rest of the AFC.

This is a team that you don’t necessarily want to play in the postseason.

Pittsburgh has now put up 30-plus points in each of its past four games and looks to be hitting its stride offensively now that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looks to be completely recovered from the knee injury that sidelined him for four games earlier this season.

And he wasn’t any worse for the wear from this one. Indianapolis failed to record a sack or a quarterback hit despite 39 pass attempts by Roethlisberger.

But big challenges await.

After New England’s loss to Philadelphia Sunday, Pittsburgh’s next two opponents, Cincinnati and Denver, currently sit in the top two playoff spots in the AFC.

The Steelers are going to need to beat one of them and take care of business against Baltimore and Cleveland to close things out to get to 10-6 and have a shot of getting into the postseason.

From there, they’ll take their chances, especially with this offense.

@ Brandon Boykin played a solid game in the nickel defense for the Steelers, entering in that package along with Ross Cockrell. Both had two pass defenses and Boykin had a diving interception off a tipped pass by William Gay.

“There was no way I was letting that ball hit the ground,” said Boykin. “It was like it was in slow motion.”

Antwon Blake still started and played in the base defense because the team likes his toughness, particularly in the run game.

That will likely be the rotation moving forward, unless the onfield play merits a change.

It creates a competitiveness that could be beneficial.

“That’s not a bad thing,” Boykin said. “I know when I’m out there, I have to try to make every play I can because I might not be out there much.”

@ I don’t see any way that Jacoby Jones is still on this team when it travels to Cincinnati next week.

The Steelers dodged a bullet when Jones fumbled the opening kickoff when Jarvis Jones came up with his first career interception at the Pittsburgh 1.

But after Jacoby Jones then muffed a punt that the Steelers were fortunate to fall on, Mike Tomlin had seen enough.

Antonio Brown returned the remainder of the team’s punts. The Colts didn’t get a chance to kick off again after Jones’ muffed punt, but we can only assume that Markus Wheaton would have handled those duties.

@ James Harrison was getting so much pressure in the fourth quarter – recording three sacks – that safety Mike Mitchell actually asked him to ease up a little bit so the secondary would have a chance at some interceptions.

Mitchell, of course, was joking, but that’s how dominant Harrison was.

“He needs to buy that tackle dinner,” said defensive end Cameron Heyward.

Harrison, meanwhile, said he isn’t contemplating retirement as he now sits just 2.5 sacks behind Jason Gildon’s team-record 77.

“I’ve got another year left on my contract,” Harrison said.

@ The announced crowd at this game was just 58,701.

I’m not one of these media guys who’s going to rip Steelers fans for not showing up. But I am surprised.

This was a big game for the Steelers, who are very much alive in the AFC playoff chase.

And this offense is worth watching every time it’s on the field.

@ Jesse James caught three passes early subbing for injured Heath Miller. Markus Wheaton had three catches for 50 yards, all on the same drive that he capped off with a touchdown.

Roethlisberger can seemingly pick out any one player to feature anytime he wants, at least against the Colts. In his past two games against Indianapolis, he’s thrown for nearly 1,000 yards and 10 touchdown passes.

I was asked on the Steelers’ pre-game show if I were the Steelers, would I rather face Indianapolis with Andrew Luck healthy or Houston as the AFC South winner.

I answered Indianapolis, simply because the defense is horrid.

@ William Gay is in concussion protocol, but seemed to be going out of his way in the locker room to show that he was OK.

Players are not permitted to be interviewed when they’re in the protocol, but Gay was walking around, talking to everyone and certainly seemed alright.

That doesn’t mean anything, but it appears to be a good sign.